Cup draws serves up tricky ties for Eynesbury and Huntingdon

June 17, 2009

Updated: Tuesday, June 8, 2010 (10:19)

THE UCL Knockout Cup draw for next season has thrown up some interesting ties involving Huntingdonshire clubs. New Eynesbury Rovers manager Matt Plumb will need to get his First Division charges on their game when they face a first round tie against last

THE UCL Knockout Cup draw for next season has thrown up some interesting ties involving Huntingdonshire clubs.

New Eynesbury Rovers manager Matt Plumb will need to get his First Division charges on their game when they face a first round tie against last year's Premier League Champions Stewart & Lloyds at Hall Road.

"It's the toughest game we could have had, and it'll probably be the toughest game we face all season, so it's not the one we would have picked," he said.

Despite the challenge, Plumb said the game would allow him to get a measure of his team early in the season.

"After this game we will know where we stand against the big teams - I will have a better idea of what this team is capable of achieving in the coming season."

The new management trio at Huntingdon, Al Lenihan, Pat O'Keefe and Martyn Ray are rewarded with a home game against AFC Kempston.

The game against their First Division rivals will be a good measure as to how Huntingdon are likely to fare under the new management regime.

"We know it is not going to be easy against Kempston - they were an excellent side last season, and they will be strong again this year, so we won't be taking it lightly," said Lenihan.

"But we are going well at Huntingdon, we're amassing a decent side, and we're also hoping that we might add a few players to the existing squad before the beginning of the season."

St Neots Town have a visit to Bourne Town lined up which manager Steve Lomas will expect to take something from.

Jez Hall and Warren Everdell will take St Ives on a tricky visit to Desborough Town, who last season finished five places below Saints in the UCL Premier.

In the Reserves Knockout Cup St Neots and St Ives face away trips to Irchester and Northampton Sileby Rangers respectively with home ties for Huntingdon against Northampton On Chenecks and Eynesbury against Woodford United.